2. NJ Core Curriculum Standards
Content Area
Science
Standard
5.3 Life Science: All students will
understand that life science principles
are powerful conceptual tools for
making sense of the complexity,
diversity, and interconnectedness of life
on Earth. Order in natural systems
arises in accordance with rules that
govern the physical world, and the
order of natural systems can be
modeled and predicted through the use
of mathematics.
Strand
B. Matter and Energy
Transformations: Food is required for
energy and building cellular materials.
Organisms in an ecosystem have
different ways of obtaining food, and
some organisms obtain their food
directly from other organisms.
By the end of
grade
Content
Statement
CPI#
4
Almost all
5.3.4.B.1
energy (food)
and matter can
be traced to the
Sun.
Cumulative
Progress
Indicator (CPI)
Identify
sources of
energy (food)
in a variety of
settings (farm,
zoo, ocean,
forest).
3. Food Chain
Every organism requires energy in order to live.
Like you, all living things get their energy from the
food they eat so they are able to move and grow.
Example:
Plants get energy from the sun, certain animals
get their energy from eating plants, and some
animals get energy from eating other animals.
A food chain links the sources of food and
energy. It shows how nutrients and energy is
passed from organism to organism starting with
plant life and ending with animal life.
4. Parts of the Food Chain
Producer
PLANTS that make their own food
from sunlight (using the process
of photosynthesis).
Energy Source
A food chain is a sequence in a
biological community (an
ecosystem). It organizes living
things by what they eat or what is
eating them.
In a food chain, the arrows show
a flow of energy.
It all begins with an energy
source.
The next "link" in the chain would
be an organism that makes its
own food from the energy source.
They are called producers
(autotrophs).
THE SUN
5. Next in the chain are the animals. They are called consumers.
This is because they do not make their own food. Instead, they
consume (eat) plants and/or other animals.
There are three groups of consumers:
Animals that eat only plants.
Animals that eat only other animals.
Animals that eat both plants and
animals.
7. Toward the "top" of the food chain are
animals that have little or no natural
enemies. They can be seen as top
predators.
Decomposers
Primary Decomposers:
Bacteria and fungi
When an organism dies, it is broken
down by decomposers and is then
turned into nutrients. The nutrients
and minerals are then released
back into the soil. This then is used
by plants, thus completing and
repeating the cycle of the food
chain.
11. Which of the following could be the producer for a food chain?
earthworm
No, try again
green algae
Correct!
lady bug
No, try again
Which category best describes an animal that only eats plants?
carnivore
No, try again
producer
No, try again
herbivore
Correct!
Which of the following describes what a food chain shows?
How energy flows through a community.
Correct!
How animals move in a community.
No, try again
Which foods grow the best in a community.
No, try again
12. Optional Activity:
Breakup into pairs.
Using a pen and paper
draw and create a
different food chain with
a partner.
Think of other habitats
such as a desert,
ocean, rain forest, farm,
zoo, pond.
13. Works Cited
Col, J. (2010). Food Chains and Food Webs: "What's for Dinner?". Retrieved from
Enchanted Learning: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/foodchain/
EconGuru. (2006, October). Fundamentals of Ecology. Retrieved from EconGuru:
http://www.econguru.com/fundamentals_of_ecology/ecosystems.html
EPA. (n.d.). Food Web. Retrieved from EPA United States Environmental Protection
Agency: http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/foodweb.html
Fremont Magnet Elementary. (n.d.). Food Chains. Retrieved from Fremont:
http://schools.bcsd.com/fremont/4th_Sci_Life_food_chains.htm
Sheppards Software. (n.d.). The Food Chain. Retrieved from Sheppards Software: we
make learning fun:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner
foodchain/foodchain.htm
Smith, R. (2013). Science Games for Kids: Food Chains. Retrieved from Science Kids:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/foodchains.html
